Tequila Jack’s Restaurant & Cantina is a waterfront Mexican restaurant and agave bar located at 407 Shoreline Village Drive in Long Beach, California. Positioned directly along the wooden boardwalk of Shoreline Village overlooking Rainbow Harbor, the restaurant pairs scratch-made Mexican cuisine with sweeping views of docked sailboats, the Queen Mary across the water, and the downtown Long Beach skyline. Guests gather here for house-roasted salsas, sizzling fajitas, coastal seafood platters, and an extensive roster of Mexican tequilas and hand-shaken margaritas served across a harborfront patio and an earth-toned, candlelit dining room.
What to Expect at Tequila Jack’s Restaurant & Cantina
The kitchen at Tequila Jack’s builds its dishes around traditional Mexican culinary techniques, roasting whole chiles and tomatoes in-house each morning to produce red, green, and rich mole sauces from scratch. Warm tortilla chips and house salsa arrive fresh at every table, setting the stage for starters like Guacamole Fresco ($15.70) mashed to order with onions, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, and lime, or Queso Fundido con Chorizo ($15.70) blending melted Monterey Jack and mozzarella with spiced pork chorizo and warm tortillas. Coastal appetizers reflect the harbor setting, including the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail ($17.20) in tangy citrus-tomato broth with diced avocado, and Tostada de Ceviche ($17.20) prepared with lime-marinated Mexican shrimp, white fish, or a combination of both.
Main courses span classic enchiladas, Burritos Grande, slow-simmered Chile Colorado, and Chicken Mole alongside cast-iron sizzling fajitas and Pacific seafood specialties. The adjoining cantina is a destination in its own right, staying open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. Bartenders pour flight-worthy blanco, reposado, and añejo tequilas, cold Mexican cervezas, and signature margaritas, while weekday luncheon specials, Taco Tuesdays, and both afternoon and late-night happy hours draw locals and conventions visitors alike.
- Rainbow Harbor Waterfront Patio: Outdoor deck seating right on the Shoreline Village boardwalk with views of Rainbow Marina yachts, the historic Queen Mary, and downtown Long Beach.
- Scratch-Roasted Sauces & Mole: Chiles and tomatoes are roasted in-house daily to craft traditional red, green, and complex mole sauces for enchiladas, Chile Colorado, and house specialties.
- Made-to-Order Starters & Ceviche: Signature shareables include tableside-style Guacamole Fresco ($15.70), Queso Fundido con Chorizo ($15.70), and lime-cured Tostada de Ceviche ($17.20).
- Tequila Library & Cantina Program: An extensive selection of premium 100% blue Weber agave tequilas, house and fruit margaritas, and Mexican draft beers served in a lively cantina open late nightly.
- Taco Tuesdays & Dual Happy Hours: Weekly Taco Tuesday promotions, midday lunch specials, afternoon happy hour, and late-night cantina specials offer accessible pricing on drinks and bar bites.
Tequila Jack’s Restaurant & Cantina at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 407 Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Shoreline Village / Rainbow Harbor (Downtown Long Beach Waterfront) |
| Operating Hours | Restaurant: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM–10:00 PM, Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–11:00 PM; Cantina open until 12:00 AM Sun–Thu and 1:00 AM Fri–Sat |
| Admission / Price Range | $$ (Appetizers $15.70–$17.20; Mains typically $18–$32) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Metro A Line (Downtown Long Beach Station, 12-minute walk); paid Shoreline Village parking lot on-site with restaurant validation discounts |
| Official Website & Phone | tequilajacks.com | +1 562-628-0454 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
To secure a waterfront table on the outdoor patio without a long wait, arrive between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM on weekdays or ahead of the 6:00 PM sunset dinner rush on weekends. Drivers can pull directly into the paid Shoreline Village surface lot off Shoreline Drive; be sure to ask your server to validate your parking ticket to receive the discounted restaurant rate. Visitors arriving via public transit can ride the LA Metro A Line (formerly the Blue Line) to the Downtown Long Beach Station at 1st Street and Pine Avenue, then walk 10 minutes south down Pine Avenue and across the Pedestrian Bridge into Rainbow Harbor, or hop on the free Passport bus operated by Long Beach Transit.
The restaurant and patio sit on the flat, step-free boardwalk level of Shoreline Village, making entry smooth for wheelchairs, strollers, and guests with limited mobility, with accessible restrooms located inside. Because of its central harborfront position, a meal at Tequila Jack’s pairs naturally with a stroll around the Rainbow Harbor Esplanade, a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific just a 10-minute walk west along the water, or an afternoon watching the Swan Boats and browsing the Grasshopper Pinnacle and Shoreline Park viewpoints at the end of the peninsula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the operating hours at Tequila Jack’s Restaurant & Cantina?
The main dining room serves from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. The cantina stays open later every night, pouring drinks until 12:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and until 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday.
How much does a meal cost at Tequila Jack’s in Long Beach?
Tequila Jack’s falls into the moderate ($$) price tier, with starters like Guacamole Fresco and Queso Fundido priced at $15.70 and seafood appetizers such as Mexican Shrimp Cocktail and Tostada de Ceviche at $17.20. Most taco, enchilada, burrito, and fajita entrees range from $18 to $32, and guests can also take advantage of weekday lunch specials, Taco Tuesdays, and afternoon or late-night happy hours.
How much time should I budget for dining at Tequila Jack’s?
Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours for a full sit-down meal with margaritas and appetizers on the harborfront patio. If you are stopping into the cantina for happy hour drinks and chips with salsa between sightseeing stops, 45 to 60 minutes is sufficient.
Is Tequila Jack’s family-friendly and wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the restaurant welcomes families with kids throughout the day and evening in both the main dining room and outdoor waterfront deck, while the late-night cantina caters to an adult nightlife crowd. The boardwalk entrance, indoor dining room, and outdoor patio are step-free and wheelchair accessible.
When planning your Long Beach travel guide or browsing verified nightlife in Long Beach, pair this stop with standout local spots including El Dorado Nature Center, Schooner Or Later, Gladstone's Long Beach, and Yard House (nearby).
